Oct 6 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Nate is strengthening over the northwestern Caribbean sea and hurricane and storm surge warnings have been issued for the northern Gulf Coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Friday.

The storm is located about 165 miles (260 km) north-northeast of Isla Guanaja, Honduras with maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (85 km/h), the Miami-based NHC said.

Nate will move into the southern Gulf of Mexico Friday night and move near or over the northern Gulf coast Saturday night or Sunday, the NHC said adding Nate is expected to become hurricane by the time it reaches the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Maria Lopez cries while walking from her house that was flooded after the passage of Hurricane Maria, in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, on September 22, 2017.
Puerto Rico battled dangerous floods Friday after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island, as rescuers raced against time to reach residents trapped in their homes and the death toll climbed to 33. Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello called Maria the most devastating storm in a century after it destroyed the US territory's electricity and telecommunications infrastructure.
/ AFP PHOTO / HECTOR RETAMAL (Photo credit should read HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)